Gifts for NASCAR Fans
NASCAR fans were quick to notice during Wednesday afternoon’s practice session that NASCAR on FOX has stopped using the somewhat controversial cartoon driver graphics in its race coverage.
After five years of waiting, NASCAR on FOX has finally listened to its fans and removed the animated depictions of NASCAR drivers from its graphics package.
FOX first rolled these out in 2021 after using photos of drivers during the 2020 season. The graphics, such as the one of Ryan Blaney on the right-hand sign, show drivers stylized as comic book characters.
While these were a fun twist on things, some versions of these cartoon drivers saw heavy criticism for not looking anything like the actual driver, or even exaggerating the, let’s say, muscular build of drivers, such as the infamous Jacques Villeneuve graphic from 2022.
This past off-season, NASCAR on FOX Crew Chief Analyst Larry McReynolds teased fans that FOX would adopt a new graphics package and some production changes.
Though a new overall package was not used for Clash practice and qualifying on Wednesday, fans got to see the old package with the now-removed cartoon drivers.
Furthermore, FOX also debuted new commercial bumpers of drivers (recently teased on social media), which are reminiscent of those used by FOX during the early 2010s.
In reaction to this change, though it wasn’t an overhaul of FOX’s graphics, race fans have not held back their joy over this change.
Many fans are also pointing out how this continues a trend of NASCAR and its partners listening to the fanbase, such as NASCAR’s recent decision to change the points format, and Charlotte Motor Speedway returning its fall race to the oval.
While the cartoon drivers may be gone in an official capacity, as long as there is a NASCAR community, expect some of the more off-putting ones to continue being posted on social media by race fans for years to come.
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